Cusco in 5 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

If you are planning to visit Peru and want to spend 5 days in Cusco, the best alternative for you to get the most out of your trip is to organise a detailed itinerary for each of the days, since this destination is one of the largest in the country and has many attractions to offer. With an intense and scheduled tour that I propose you will be able to see and do some of the best activities in Cusco.

For the first day of your tour of Cusco I suggest you visit the main sites of the historic centre such as the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral, the Central Market and the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, which are in the area close to the old part of the city.

Visit the Plaza de Armas of Cusco

The Plaza de Armas is one of the most emblematic places in Cusco and is located in the heart of the historic centre. It is also known as the Plaza Mayor and is surrounded by colonial buildings and the majestic Cathedral of Cusco, which you can visit inside by booking tickets on Hellotickets.

In the centre of the square is a water fountain, which is a popular place to take photographs and the meeting point for the best tours of Cusco.

In addition to the Cusco Cathedral, the square also has other nearby points of interest such as the Temple of the Society of Jesus and the Church of La Merced, making it a place that combines architectural beauty with local life.

See the Stone of the 12 Angles

The Stone of the 12 Angles is one of Cusco's most striking structures. Located in the neighbourhood of San Blas, it is a carved granite rock found on the wall of a colonial house and is famous for having 12 perfectly carved angles.

The precision in the construction of the stone is striking and it is believed to have been carved by the Incas in the 15th century. This stone demonstrates the skill and precision of the Incas in the construction of architectural structures.

Lunch at the San Pedro Central Market

The Central Market of San Pedro is one of the best places to have a local experience in Cusco. Here you can learn about Andean culture and, being located in the heart of the city, you can get there in just a few minutes' walk.

You can find a variety of products, from fresh fruit and vegetables to traditional handicrafts and textiles, making it an ideal place to buy authentic and good quality souvenirs. The atmosphere of the market is vibrant and colourful, with friendly vendors and locals coming to do their daily shopping.

You can also sample typical specialities such as the traditional purple corn drink and typical food such as ceviche and chicharrón. In general, this market is an ideal place to take a break between excursions, to have lunch and to take some of the best gastronomic tours and cooking classes in Cusco.

Get to know the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art

The Museum of Pre-Columbian Art is one of the best museums in Cusco and is also one of the most important of its kind in Latin America, with a very important collection of pre-Hispanic art and archaeological artefacts from the Andean cultures.

It is housed in a restored colonial mansion in the historic centre, right next to the Plaza de Armas. And the museum's collection includes more than 4500 pieces dating from 2000 BC to the arrival of the Spanish in Peru in the 16th century.

The Museum of Pre-Columbian Art offers an insight into the rich history and culture of the pre-Columbian Andean peoples. Here you will see a variety of artefacts, including textiles, ceramics, jewellery, sculptures and tools. Highlights include the famous gold and silver collection from the Moche culture and the pottery collection from the Nazca culture.

Machu Picchu is possibly the main attraction of Cusco, so on the second day, after the day of acclimatisation to the altitude, I propose you to visit this sacred site of the Inca culture including a tour of Ollantaytambo, which is one of the closest towns to the archaeological site.

Get to know the Sacred Valley of Ollantaytambo

The Sacred Valley of Ollantaytambo is a popular tourist destination in Peru due to its rich history and natural beauty. This site is located 60 kilometres north of the city of Cusco and stretches from Pisac to Ollantaytambo.

It is known for its Inca ruins, which include the archaeological complex of Ollantaytambo, but also for the fortress that was built during the rule of Pachacutec and was used for both military and religious purposes.

The Sacred Valley is also known for its stunning natural scenery, which includes mountains, rivers and valleys. The Urubamba River flows through the valley and there are many towns and villages to visit in the area. In addition, you can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking and river rafting, as well as using the village as a base for touring Machu Picchu.

Tour Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is one of the most impressive and famous archaeological sites in the world. Situated high on a mountain in the Peruvian Andes, this complex of Inca ruins has fascinated visitors since its discovery in 1911. Touring Machu Picchu is a unique experience that will transport you back in time.

The road to Machu Picchu begins in the city of Cusco. From there, you can take a bus to Ollantaytambo and then a scenic train to the village of Aguas Calientes, which is located at the foot of the mountain. From Aguas Calientes there are two options: take a bus or walk up the famous Inca Trail.

You can book tickets to Machu Picchu and walk it on your own or join a guided tour to learn more about the history of the ruins. Highlights include the main square, the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana and the House of the Inca. There are also hiking trails through the mountains for a panoramic view of the site.

For this day I propose a tour that also delves into the Inca culture, especially so that you can get to know the Moray and the salt mines of Maras, two very important places to understand the engineering and technology of the Inca civilization.

Explore the archaeological site of Moray

Moray is a fascinating archaeological site formed by a set of circular terraces built into the side of a mountain that were probably used as an agricultural laboratory by the ancient Incas. Each terrace has a different height level and the temperature in the centre of each is several degrees higher than at the edges, which allowed the Incas to grow different types of plants in one place.

The site offers panoramic views of the surrounding Peruvian Andes, making it a must-see for history and nature lovers. You can reach Moray on a full-day excursion from Cusco or by booking a Moray quad biking adventure tour.

In addition, the archaeological site of Moray is surrounded by farmland and small villages of local people, offering a unique opportunity to experience Andean culture first-hand. You can also hike along the trails leading to the fields and come across peasants working on their land.

Discover the salt mines of Maras

The salt mines of Maras are one of Cusco's most unique sites, which also serve to demonstrate the technological knowledge of the Incas.

This site is located on the outskirts of the city and is a collection of more than 3000 terraced salt pits dating back to pre-Inca times, which you can visit by booking a quad bike tour.

As well as the beautiful panoramic view of the salt pans, you can also learn about the production process and how the pits are filled with salt water from a nearby spring and then left to evaporate in the sun to concentrate the salt.

The Seven Colours Mountain is one of the most important tourist destinations in Peru. It is a uniquely coloured mountain with red, green, yellow and purple stripes. One of the best ways to explore the mountain is to book a full day tour to the Seven Colours Mountain from Cusco

The Seven Colours Mountain tour starts in Cusco city, from where you travel by bus for approximately 3 hours to the starting point of the hike. Along the way, you will enjoy the views of the Peruvian Andes and the small villages surrounding the mountain.

Upon arrival, you will have to hike for approximately 2 hours to the top of the mountain. In addition, these tours usually include a visit to the village of Chinchero, where you can find local handicrafts and traditional architecture. You can also do this tour if you decide to discover Cusco in 3 days.

I suggest you close your tour of the city by visiting Saqsaywaman, a sacred space in the outskirts of Cuzco, and enjoy the Peruvian gastronomy, which is one of the most complete and tasty in the world.

Visit Saqsaywaman

Saqsaywaman is one of the most important archaeological sites in Cusco, noted for its large size and architectural design. Located on the top of a hill on the outskirts of the city, this complex was built during the Inca period and is believed to have had religious and ceremonial purposes.

Among its main attractions is the main fortress, which is an imposing stone wall that stretches for several hundred metres. Inside the fortress you can also see various stone buildings and structures, such as aqueducts, squares, temples and dwellings. You can get there on the hop on-hop off tourist bus of Cusco that you can book on the Hellotickets website.

The visit to Saqsaywaman, especially the walk to the top of the hill, offers spectacular panoramic views of the city and its surroundings. Once at the complex, you will be able to appreciate up close the Inca's skill in building stone structures.

Enjoy typical Peruvian cuisine

Peruvian gastronomy is known worldwide for its richness of flavours and variety of ingredients and Cusco is no exception to the rule, so there is no better way to say goodbye to the city than with a dinner of typical products.

One of the most popular meals in the city is cuy al horno (roasted guinea pig). This small rodent is slow-cooked in a wood-fired oven and served with potatoes and corn. Another dish not to be missed is lomo saltado, a Peruvian-Chinese dish consisting of chunks of meat mixed with onion, tomato, fried potatoes and rice.

You can also opt for aji de gallina (a stew made with shredded chicken, potatoes, walnuts and aji amarillo), the popular ceviche, Peruvian causa and papa a la huancaína. All are a delicious and plentiful option that is available any time you travel to Cusco.